I have a radar detector that I want to direct wire into an ignition switched circuit. I was going to consider wiring into the stereo, but cannot for the life of me see how to get the stock stereo out.
Would someone please advise, or give me an alternate place to wire to.
Thanks in advance...

when wiring in your radar, take two pieces of wire. wrap one around the tip of the plug (this will be the positive wire), next take the other wire and wrap it around the middle section of the plug (this will be the negitive). if you can sodder the wires but if you cant just wrap it with electrical tape really good

I would advise wiring it in to your ignition line the comes down your sterring column so the radar will come on and go off when you start the car or turn off the car (this will be the positive line) then just ground the negitive wire to some bare piece of metal. just dont ground the wire to a factory boly cuz sometimes this is not a good ground make your own ground

any question just ask

The lighter outlet in my 04 is switched on by the key, don't know about 06

ya i forgot about the ligter outlet being switched, so use to wiring radios and alarms that i never think about other wires rather then the ones under the steering column area

The '06 has 4 DC outlets 2 are always on and 2 are not.

The '06 has 4 DC outlets 2 are always on and 2 are not.
Lets see, my 04 has one on control panel, one inside armrest, one on back of armrest, one in cargo area, not sure about inside armrest, but the others are constant

Thanks guys, once I figured out how to get the lower panel off, wiring it to the acc. plug was easy!

what are you going to do if you go to or though a state that out laws radar detectors? i hear they take them and seriously fine you

I used to have a hardwired radar detector in a previous car, but I was still able to unplug it. When I went thru Delaware (where they DO confiscate them), I put it in my glove box.

I think I can help here, I've got my trusty bel 745i hard wired to my 06 X. There's a 12vdc line that runs to the map light ass'y. I ran the cord across the roughly 8 inches from the fuzz buster to the light unit, and ran the cord under the plastic housing. It works great.

what are you going to do if you go to or though a state that out laws radar detectors? i hear they take them and seriously fine you
In MN they're legal, though the unit I use has stealth technology to mask it from the VGR units that the uniformed civilians use to detect them in other states. I believe that only Virginia and Delaware forbid them.

Just FYI, radar is directed at license plates as they are the most reflective surface on vehicles.

Mounting radar detectors high on the windshield in many cases decreases its effectiveness because of the UV protection as well. The high radar detectors increase their over all range on say, a highway, but decreases accurate readings locally.

In MN it IS legal, but in any state if you are pulled over with a radar detector, chances of you getting a fine are probably going to be higher.

Oh, and they are illegal for commercial vehicles in ALL states. Even if you drive an xterra, if it is registered for company use, watch out.

Since purchasing my trusty 745i back in 1992, it's proboby saved me enough missed speeding tickets to pay for my X. Actually out of years of experience, I keep my Bel mounted up high, it seems to provide me with the best ECM capabilities. It's worked so well, I've purchased extras off ebay. I keep a 755i in my Mustang, a 745i in my wifes Escape, and two spares. With my trusty old Bel 745i, I can tell if the squad is in front, behind or off to either side just by the signal, I also know if it's a false alert or interferance from something like a cell phone.

Just FYI, radar is directed at license plates as they are the most reflective surface on vehicles.

Mounting radar detectors high on the windshield in many cases decreases its effectiveness because of the UV protection as well. The high radar detectors increase their over all range on say, a highway, but decreases accurate readings locally.

At the ranges of most radar encounters, the beam is wide enough to engulf your entire car, and at least one car on either side. Besides, if you're hoping to react, brake, and act cool by the time the gun gets a lock on you (about 2 seconds), you're kidding yourself. :) Generally speaking, you get the laser notice miles before you get to the cop, and slow down well before he sees you.

Laser, on the other hand, is a very tight beam, about three feet at a range of 1000 feet. This may be what you're thinking of, as cops are trained to aim them at license plates or headlights. It's so quick and tight that you have no time in which to react. On the plus side, you can use a light transmitter to legally block the laser guns.

Woody (who's used a radar detector since about 1985)

bingo woody, thanks. Laser, not radar.

Radar is read in a large pattern bounced off of flat surfaces on the vehicle. The detector picks up parts of the "cone" that misses the rest of the vehicle, where as a laser detector catches the "splash" that comes from when a vehicle in front of you is hit. The signal isnt waited to be transmitted "back" like radar, as its such a quick signal it returns immediately in the same wave instead of the "bouncing" effect radar has.

Thats more of what I was thinking, just got sloppy. :)

Apparently so did I, because I mentioned "laser" in the "radar" paragraph. I'll leave it there for posterity's sake.

Woody

I have a valentine 1 that I would like to hotwire it on my 2003. I would like to run the wire down passenger's side pillar and out to the fuse box to connect it to the lighter fuse...any help on the technicalities removing pillar, glove box, etc. will be most welcomed.
thank you guys

I understand the mechanics of both laser and radar, though I really don't conciously think of them as I'm driving. It's a matter of knowing where all the traps are, checking the on-ramps as you pass under overpasses, watching the sky for small planes flying parallel to the interstate and other stuff like that. If you're the first in line for the guy with a laser gun, you're toast, fortunately enough of it scatters on cars in front of me that I'm able to detect it and slow down. Instant-on is a little difficult, but there too, that constant on and off signal is a dead givaway. Few metro locations use laser, the same for instant-on, most go for the simple "always on" radar. Bloomington and Edina are the easyiest to speed in, Prior Lake and Chaska the hardest. It's all a matter of observation and counting the cards so to speak. With over 100 techs out of our branch, we also mass communicate about speed trap locations during the day. Don't you just love nextel phones. Some of you will read this and wonder how many road-side consultations I actually have, none in the last 20 years. But, odds are, with my driving 1000 miles a week, it'll happen some day.